New version: PHP, FTP and running scripts!

Jan 28 2011

New version of touchqode (mobile code editor) is available for download. This version will make happy especially web developers, android scripters and Samsung Galaxy S users.

Improvements in this version include:

• PHP support
• FTP browser (experimental)
• Running scripts: Integration with Scripting Layer for Android
• ALT behavior made consistent with Shift
• Fixed max lines on Samsung Galaxy S

Go, download new version or read on to find out more!

PHP support

Touchqode is now able to highlight your PHP files (and all surrounding HTML/JavaScript as well). Autocomplete works too and recognizes if you are in PHP, HTML or JavaScript block. We have included few common functions to autocomplete (require, strpos, mysql_, ...).

FTP browser (experimental)

To make editing websites easier we have integrated FTP browser into touchqode. Few notes to take:

• the FTP browser is in very early version - most of the time works fine but might break occasionally (mostly when no network connection is found).
• the downloaded files are stored in /sdcard/touchqode/dwnld/ftp/<server>/<user>/ where <server> and <user> are the server and user to which you connect - in some of the next updates you will be able to choose destination folder
• when you edit and save your file in the ftp folder you will be prompted to choose upload back to server using saved credentials or save it locally (you can then upload it using an external FTP client)
• each downloaded file is kept for back-up in /sdcard/touchqode/backup/ftp/<server>/<user>/ - so you never have to worry changing your files - original is stored for your.
  One caveat: you have to clean the cache manually
• you can download whole directory including subdirectories - in FTP browser screen press Menu/Download directory. It downloads current directory recursively to the above mentioned ftp folder.
  Important: Download directory skips files larger than 600kB - to avoid cloging your internet connection.

ALT behavior made consistent with Shift

In the spirit of experimenting in order to find the best way of user input we have changed the behaviour of ALT key - it is no longer on/off key. ALT now behaves exactly as Shift key:

• single tap - ALT is on for the next single character
• double tap - ALT is on for all subsequent characters untill you press ALT again

We have also fixed the issue with ALT indicating it's on even after it wasn't active anymore.

Running scripts: Integration with Scripting Layer for Android

We have received many requests for running scripts right on the phone. So in this version, we have included a first simple version of this capability.

To make it work, we are interfacing the Scripting Layer for Android (SL4A). So you will need to install it from http://code.google.com/p/android-scripting/. In the middle of this page, you can see a big QR code. Download this apk (sl4a_r3.apk) and install it. This way you get the basic environment, but you do not have any languages installed yet. In the right section of this page on top ("Featured" / "Downloads"), there are several links to .apk files. Choose the languages of your choice, install them and you are ready to run your first script on Android.

Watch out for the size of the downloaded files!! They can be more than 10MB per language and during the installation, the apk can download even more MBs! We recommend that you do this installation via a free wifi!!

After you have your favourite languages in SL4A in your phone, run the code by clicking Menu/Save & Run.

Max lines limit on Samsung Galaxy S

Previous version encountered problems opening large files (files larger than 10kb) on some Samsung devices. This was caused by the unfortunate default values set in Samsung version of Android. To overcome this touchqode sets max lines to 5,000,000 and max characters to 5,000,000 which should be enough for anyone (TM by Microsoft).

If you still encounter any strange behaviour let us know.

That's all folks. You can get new version from android market (see download section). We hope you like this version and that it will help you with your projects. There are more interesting things coming so stay tuned for next version. Whether you like it or not, we will be happy to hear from you.

Touchqode team.